Archive for July, 2010

How you are seen by others

July 4th, 2010

Do you ever worry about the health service at all?

You should?

These are sentences actually typed by medical secretaries

1. The patient has no previous history of suicides.

2. Patient has left her white blood cells at another hospital.

3. Patient’s medical history has been remarkably insignificant with only a 40 pound weight gain in the past three days.

4. She has no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night.

5. Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.

6. On the second day the knee was better and on the third day it disappeared.

7. The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed.

8. The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993.

9. Discharge status: -      Alive, but without my permission.

10. Healthy appearing decrepit 69-year old male, mentally alert, but forgetful.

11. Patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for lunch.

12. She is numb from her toes down.

13. While in ER, she was examined, x-rated and sent home.

14. The skin was moist and dry.

15. Occasional, constant infrequent headaches.

16. Patient was alert and unresponsive.

17. Rectal examination revealed a normal size thyroid.

18. She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life until she got a divorce.

19. I saw your patient today, who is still under our care for physical therapy.

20. Both breasts are equal and reactive to light and accommodation.

21 Examination of genitalia reveals that he is circus sized.

22. The lab test indicated abnormal lover function.

23. Skin: somewhat pale, but present.

24. The pelvic exam will be done later on the floor.

25. Large brown stool ambulating in the hall.

26. Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities
.
27. When she fainted, her eyes rolled around the room.

28. The patient was in his usual state of good health until his airplane ran out of fuel and crashed.

29. Between you and me, we ought to be able to get this lady pregnant.

30. She slipped on the ice and apparently her legs went in separate directions in early December.

31. Patient was seen in consultation by Dr. Smith, who felt we should sit on the abdomen and I agree.

32. The patient was to have a bowel resection.  However, he took a job as a stock broker instead.

33. By the time he was admitted, his rapid heart had stopped, and he was feeling better.

Stay away from hospitals!

The meaning of life

July 2nd, 2010

What do you see as the meaning of life?

Are we stuck here to make things as pleasant as possible or as miserable as possible?

Personally, I subscribe to the former.  I don’t see why I should suffer any more pain or anguish than is absolutely necessary, and strive to make life an experience that is worth living.  I would have thought that that philosophy was so ingrained into the human psyche that it shouldn’t need to be stated.  It is as natural as breathing.

Why then do the various governments of the world think differently?

Why is it that the stated aim of governments is to prolong life, no matter what the cost?

Just say for example, you were given two choices for the future.  Suppose you were told you could live for eight more years, and those years would be happy, pleasant, peaceful years?  Or you could chose to live for an extra two years, and that those ten years would be miserable?  Which would you chose?  I know I would go for the eight, and fuck the begrudgers.

Already we have seen international attempts to force us to quit smoking for the sake of our health.  We are forced to wear all sorts of harnesses, and hard hats for the sake of our health.  Now they are working on our diet, forcing manufacturers to remove salt and sugar for the sake of our health.  Next it will be alcohol for the sake of our health.  Where is this going to stop?  Will we be banned from letting the sun shine on our skin for the sake of our health?  Will we be force fed various dietary supplements for the sake of our health?

Why?

What exactly is the point of this drive to prolong our lives?

I would have thought the government would be delighted if I popped my clogs the day I retired, as then I would be less of a drain on the state?  They are always whinging about how the elderly are a drain on resources yet they try to create as many as possible.

Quite honestly, the thought of giving up smoking, drinking and all the other little pleasures in life just so I could live miserably for an extra couple of years makes me want to top myself here and now.  What would be the point?

They can fuck off.

When they finally plant me [or burn me], I want every bit of my anatomy to be on its last legs.  What’s the point in burying a good healthy set of lungs, heart, liver, kidneys or a gleaming set of teeth? 

My ambition is to enjoy myself to the full, and hope that I die of a complete and simultaneous failure of all organs.

I will go with a bang.

But I will go with a fucking big smile on my face.

A belt of a price

July 1st, 2010

Bantry is a lovely town.

It is big enough to have everything a town should have, yet it is small enough that you can explore the whole town on foot without getting too knackered.  It is also a very attractive colourful town, with the sea on one side and the hills and mountains right at its back.  I like Bantry.

Friday is market day there.

The market in Bantry is a colourful affair.  You can buy just about anything there, and when you have finished, you can have a go on one of several bouncy castles.

I was wandering along with Sandy, idly eyeing the various stalls, when Sandy got pally with an old Labrador.  Needless to say, I got chatting to the stall owner.  He was a tanner.  That is to say, the love of his live [apart from his dog, and I didn’t ask about his marital status] was working with leather.

I am ashamed to admit that I was getting a little embarrassed at the state of the string that holds my trousers up, so I had an inspiration – why not go all posh and have a proper belt?  I put the idea to my new friend and he was delighted.  He said he would run one up especially for me.

First of all, he got a length of finest harness leather.  He burnished off one end to a nice smooth point and then asked if he could borrow my string, to see what size my waist was.  I gave it to him, and he measured off the perfect length.  I confess I felt a little foolish in the middle of a crowded market with my trousers around my ankles, but fuck it, it was a lovely sunny day and it meant I could cool down a bit.

He stapled on a fine solid brass buckle, and whacked in a few holes, and then just because it was a lovely day he engraved a nice little Celtic motif on it.  He did a beautiful job.  It is a grand solid stiff piece of leather.  He even said there was a twenty year guarantee on it, which was great news, as it means I have at least another twenty years to live.

I tried it out that night.

It is lovely.  It smells beautiful and has a lovely feel to it.

I tried it out on myself first.  It fits perfectly and holds my trousers up.

Then I tried it out on Herself.

It left some lovely red Celtic motifs on her arse.

The best €17 I have spent in years.

« Prev